I have some not so fond memories of lamb from the time I was a young girl. Twice a month, my mother would prepare lamb chops for a weeknight dinner. Fried to a crisp in a cast iron skillet, they were an anemic grayish-brown, overcooked, dry, and tasteless…thank the Good Lord for mint jelly!

Just a generation ago, home cooks were taught to cook lamb until it was the consistency of shoe leather, although in those days they called it “well done”. Modern farming and inspection techniques have essentially rid us of the need to overcook our lamb. Now we are able to enjoy this meat and all its wonderful flavor, by cooking to rare or medium rare. The lamb is succulent and moist at these temperatures, prepared beautifully and depending on the recipe, infused with creative flavors.

I was honored when asked to participate in the Charleston Wine & Food Festival’s inaugural Lambs & Clams Cooking Contest with seven other bloggers from across the country. Charleston is one of our favorite cities to visit and is certainly one of the top destinations for dining in the United States. We were just in Charleston this past week, for my birthday, to “eat our way” through the city.

The cooking challenge stated, “The Lambs + Clams Original Recipe Contest Presented by the BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival® will encourage bloggers to re-create the festival values rooted in Charleston’s local culture and inspire new flavorful creations. The contest will span four months as these food bloggers each make four original dishes including lamb, oysters or clams.”

When I read the invitation to participate in the contest, I was intrigued because I do have a connection to Charleston and the food culture of the city. Living in the South, I am inspired every day by the chefs, farmers, food, and spirits artisans I have met during our travels. I have been to Craig Roger’s Border Springs Farm in Virginia and have seen the gorgeous rolling hills and lush green pastures his sheep graze on every day. His animals are beautiful and deserve the same care in preparation that they have received before harvest. I hope that passion comes through in my dish.

Border Springs Farm – Patrick Springs, VA

The flock of sheep guided by the guard dog coming up to the top of the hill at Border Springs Farm

“Re-create the festival values rooted in Charleston’s local culture and inspire new flavorful creations.” To me, Charleston represents a style of classic elegance. There is a refined casualness that is filled with cultural flavors. The city is cosmopolitan, yet its Southern heritage comes through loud and clear. I chose to create a dish that I believe showcases these elements of Charleston and Southern traditions. While the list of ingredients is long, the actual method of preparation is simple.

We will take a tour of the South in developing this recipe. The first stop is the state of Tennessee. Inspired by a brine recipe from Blackberry Farm, I changed things up a bit and made a Jack Daniels whiskey brine with sorghum from Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill with apple cider and spices. The apple cider and spices are reminiscent of fall. I wanted the flavors of the brine to shine through, ever so delicately, in the finished leg of lamb. The brine kept the meat not only incredibly flavorful and moist, but also so tender that you could cut it with a fork. It literally melted in your mouth.

The lamb was so tender and moist that we could cut it with a fork

After a 36-hour brine, I carried a few of the same ingredients over to make a 4-hour marinade, however, in addition, I included a few other spices for a more intense flavor. Using a base of olive oil and sorghum, I added rosemary, cumin, and sweet paprika along with the coriander. I did not include the cardamon in the second process. I vacuum packed the leg of lamb to infuse the flavors, however this is optional. Placing the lamb in a sealed zip lock bag with the marinade will work well, too. I basted the lamb with the marinade while it cooked to ensure a beautifully brown exterior that would allow the essence of those flavors to be enjoyed with every bite of the meat.

About the Author

Gwen Pratesi

Gwen Pratesi is a James Beard Foundation Award Finalist in Journalism and award-winning travel writer. She is the author and owner of PratesiLiving.com with her husband, coauthor of Southern Heat, and co-owner of On the Road Culinary Adventures, a culinary travel business. She is a contributor to the Travel section of U.S. News & World Report and freelances for other publications including Forbes Travel Guide, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine, and World Travel Magazine.
Her work has also been featured on MSN, Yahoo!, Business Insider, and SheKnows.com.
Gwen chronicles her love of international travel and experience as a professional home cook on PratesiLiving.com, where she shares the stories of some of the world's most sought after destinations, highly regarded chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, wine and spirits producers, and culinary artisans.
She and her husband just traded in big city life in Atlanta for shorts and flip flops at Fernandina Beach, Florida. They look forward to enjoying the coastal lifestyle and welcoming a new dog to their family in the near future.

I can’t thank you enough for using our grits. I know craig and I am blessed to have my grits with his lamb. thank you for what you do, god bless, greg

Gwen, I don’t eat lamb..I can’t eat lamb…it always tastes too gamy to me, but I’m being completely honest when I say this- .I want to eat your whiskey sorghum brined lamb! I’m in awe of how perfectly cooked and gorgeous it is. The cheese grit cakes with gouda..now that one is easy – GIMME! You know you’ve got my vote and then some 🙂

I’m not a big fan of lamb either, but your marinade sounds wonderful and love your twist on the mint jelly. Really superb, including the side of grit cakes! Now I need to vote, but it seems to be down for the count at the moment!